Great emotion at parting: Robert Harting leaves the stage of a major competition sport in Berlin, with rank six. A solid end to an extraordinary career, which began at the same place at a furious pace.
Once again a knock out – that was the Plan. He went partially.
This Time, the Shirt stays. Robert Harting leaves the Ring, the discus thrower is not a wild, leaping, exulting, his shirt ripping. Unlike his big breakthrough in 2009, when the world Cup victory at home in Berlin, Harting is with mixed feelings from the 2.5-Meter-wide throw circle up to now of his life. The face: somewhere between contrite and redeemed. Posture: upright. The gesture: He claps applause, thanks, so the Berlin audience had received him already in front of the Competition with a Standing ovation.
The Olympic champion of London is leaving with its head held high the big stage. In his last international championship in Berlin’s Olympic stadium Harting’s, although without the many Fans dreamed of the precious metal, but with a solid performance, which seemed a few weeks ago, this was unthinkable. After problems in the preparation of some of the Harting to trust not even the qualification. And in fact, it was in the same tight, Harting was shaking in the final battle.
The body does not want any more
Once there, celebrate him more than 37,000 spectators in Berlin’s Olympic stadium. Home game for Harting. The 33-year-old Berliner is on Wednesday evening, the Star at the European athletics Championships, its profile emblazoned breitscheid larger than life on the Berliner Platz. The emotions are similar to before came up nine years for his world championship Triumph at the same place as a be star. But something is different: Harting’s body is the same. The knee tweaks, was treated with cortisone, so the pain will remain tolerable. His body no longer tells of the oppression of a motor sports, the end of this body, and was competitive.
Concentration before the last throws of his international career
With its 64,33 meters Harting is in between, even on silver price. But this is also a strange Race, with a late but knew the power of Sweden, Daniel steel. The champion of Europe, the Lithuanians Andrius Gudzius with 68,46 meters will eventually; silver Swedish steel (68,23 meters) in front of the Austrians Lukas haidinger (65,14) White. For Harting, sixth place – remains at the end of respectable, but not amazing.
“You can’t reproduce the old times”
“A significant night, because the circle closes,” says Harting later adopted in the ARD Interview. “You can’t reproduce the old times. But I am also self-critical.” And he continues: “I wanted to say goodbye as the best German I made.” A small jab at his brother Christoph, who was in Rio in 2016, four years after Robert Olympic champion, but, surprisingly, already in the qualification for the European Championships in Berlin had failed. Both to avoid in Berlin, pass by without a word to each other.
When he is adopted by the stadium announcer, but come the emotions. Tears stand in his eyes, he wipes it with the Sleeve through the face. The people in the stands, applauding for Harting. Also because he is more than an Athlete. Harting’s mouth, edge, edge. For example, anti-Doping, for which he got a lot of recognition from many, but also criticism. Harting is a fierce athlete who creates with officials or sports politicians, when it comes to a better promotion of top-level sport. Also, he leaves behind a large gap in the German sports. And not a few hope that he closes them again, just not as Active, but in a new function.
Robert Harting remains in his plans for the future, something vague, throws the look but forward: He speaks of things he wants to learn, gaps in knowledge, he wants to close. “There’s a life after that, because I’m happy now.” That sounds promising. The Harting has not yet finished.